Blacktip sharkin North Carolina
Carcharhinus limbatus
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for blacktip shark, so the council's rule applies in state waters too.
HMS Angling permit with shark endorsement required; non-offset circle hooks required with natural bait.
Counts toward an aggregate limit: Shark: 1 per vessel per trip aggregate.
Measured as fork length (FL): snout to the fork of the tail.
NOAA HMS 2026· checked Open
Often mistaken for, and their North Carolina rules
Keep the wrong fish and the rule that applies is the other one’s.
| Fish | Size | Bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacktip sharkThis page. | 54" FL min | 1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combined | Year-round |
| Spinner sharkBlack tip ON the anal fin, longer snout.Tell them apart | 54" FL min | 1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combined | Year-round |
How to tell it
Black-tipped fins but a plain (unmarked) anal fin; pointed snout; Z-shaped lateral line. More on the blacktip shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Blacktip shark in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a blacktip shark in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appBlacktip shark in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for blacktip shark in North Carolina?
54" FL min. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many blacktip shark can you keep in North Carolina?
1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combined. It counts toward an aggregate: Shark: 1 per vessel per trip aggregate.
When is blacktip shark season in North Carolina?
Year-round.
How current is this North Carolina blacktip shark rule?
Source: NOAA HMS 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.